High capacity universal connector

ABSTRACT

A high capacity universal connector for use in connecting tubular members and a method for sealing the tubular members is provided. First and second tubular members are provided which each have ends that are brought into face-to-face engagement by a connector. A metal sealing element seals against conical surfaces at the ends of the first and second tubular members and enables the entire surface of the end of one tubular member to be bought into engagement with the surface of the end of the other tubular member so as to improve the bending and compression capacity of the assembly comprising the tubular members and the metal sealing element. A metal sealing ring for use in this assembly is also provided, along with a gasket retention assembly.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 62/432,444, entitled “High Capacity UniversalConnector”, filed on Dec. 9, 2016.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to oil and gas productionand drilling operations, and specifically to increased surface area atthe interfacing surfaces of housings and associated connectors, improvedgaskets, and gasket retention devices that enable the same.

BACKGROUND

A subsea well has a housing located at the subsea floor. The housing isdefined by a tubular member having a bore. A connector may be asimilarly tubular member with a bore. The connector may be lowered froma vessel, located at the surface, toward the housing, where theconnector may connect the subsea housing to the surface by coupling tothe exterior of the housing. The housing may further comprise one ormore upward-facing shoulders on its upper end that are operable tointerface with one or more downward-facing shoulders on the lower end ofthe connector. The connector main body may comprise a recess locatedradially inward from one of the downward-facing shoulders. Both thehousing and connector may comprise a grooved profile on their outerdiameter to enable a locking ring to couple the housing and connectortogether to create a final assembly.

A metal seal ring, or gasket, may be positioned between the tubularmembers and flexibly seal between the members. Gaskets are available ina variety of configurations, including AX, BX, CX, DX, RX, and VX types.A gasket may comprise an upper conical surface and a lower conicalsurface that are operable to create a seal when the upper conicalsurface of the gasket comes into contact with a downward-facing conicalsurface of the connector and the lower conical surface of the gasketcomes into contact with the upward-facing conical surface of thehousing. Such gaskets are often constructed having one or more ribs,which extend radially outward from the gasket. The one or more ribs mayenable alignment of the gasket and may interact with a retention deviceto maintain the gasket's position between the tubular members duringoperations.

One problem with gaskets including one or more ribs is that the ribs aredesigned to interface with a recess formed within or between the tubularmembers. This recess reduces the surface area of the tubular members, aswell as the area of the interface between the tubular members. If therecess appears in the housing or in the connector of a wellheadassembly, the recess may weaken the assembly, such that it may be moresusceptible to the forces associated with bending and compressing theassembly. High pressure/high temperature (HP/HT) subsurface drilling,with temperatures reaching and exceeding 350° F. and pressures reachingand exceeding 15,000 PSI, imposes particularly high demands on allelements of the assembly. Therefore, any reduction in the strength,flexibility, or both of the assembly may impact operational capacity ofthe assembly and may lead to undesirable results when the assembly issubjected to loads seen in challenging subsea and other environments.

The present invention is designed to increase the interface of thesurface area of the housing and connector at the shoulders of thesetubular members and thereby increase the load that the connected tubularmembers can withstand from wellbore pressures and temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some specific exemplary embodiments of the disclosure may be understoodby referring, in part, to the following description and the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a side cross sectional view of an assembly comprising ahousing, a connector, a gasket, and a locking ring, according to one ormore aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side cross sectional view of an assembly comprising ahousing, a connector, and a gasket, according to one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a side cross sectional view of an assembly comprising ahousing, a connector, and a gasket, according to one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a side cross sectional view of an assembly comprising ahousing, a connector, and a gasket, according to one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of an assembly comprising ahousing, a connector, and a gasket, according to one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a side cross sectional view of a well assembly as a gasketmoves into alignment and prior to contact between tubular members,according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a side cross sectional view of a well assembly after a gaskethas moved into alignment and tubular members contact one another,according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 8A-C are side cross sectional views illustrating a progression ofcontact between a gasket and tubular members as the gasket moves intoalignment and the tubular members contact one another.

FIG. 9 is a side cross sectional view of a tubular assembly, accordingto one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a side cross sectional view of a housing, connector, andassociated gasket and gasket retaining assembly of the tubular assemblyof FIG. 9, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a close-up side cross sectional view of the gasket and gasketretaining assembly taken within the dashed lines of FIG. 10 in a landingconfiguration, according to one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 12 is a close-up side cross sectional view of the gasket and gasketretaining assembly taken within the dashed lines of FIG. 10 in a landedconfiguration, according to one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 13 is a side cross sectional view of a housing, connector, andassociated gasket and gasket retaining assembly of a tubular assembly,according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a close-up side cross sectional view of a gasket and gasketretaining assembly, according to one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 15 is a partial side cross sectional of a tubular assembly having agasket retaining assembly and multiple stab inputs for a remote operatedvehicle (ROV), according to one or more aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 16 is a partial side cross sectional of a tubular assembly having agasket retaining assembly that is controlled via a control line from thesurface, according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention overcomes one or more deficiencies in the priorart by providing systems and methods for increasing the interfacingsurface area of tubular members, including but not limited to subseahousing assemblies, which may include wellheads, spools, adapters, andblow out preventer connections.

In one or more embodiments, the surface area of the tubular members maybe increased by removing one or more ribs extending from the gasket.Similarly, the gasket may be reduced in size and thickness to enable anincrease in the interfacing surface areas of the tubular members. Forexample, the contact area of the tubular members may be increased bybetween 10% and 40% compared to existing designs by removing the one ormore ribs from the gasket, which may proportionally increase the bendingand compression capacity of the complete assembly by 10% up to 40%.

The gasket may be aligned between the tubular members by tapered distalalignment segments near the vertical extremities of the gasket andradially central alignment segments on the gasket. In certainembodiments, the gasket may include both distal and radially centralalignment segments operable to engage the conical segments of thetubular members and ensure alignment of the gasket. In otherembodiments, the gasket may include the distal alignment segments butnot the radially central alignment segments, while in still furtherembodiments, the gasket may include the radially central alignmentsegments but not the distal alignment segments. The gasket may furtherinclude a split ring, a tab configuration, and/or other configurationsthat would be familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art.

Embodiments according to the present disclosure are also directed to animproved connector/wellhead gasket retention assembly. Unlike existinggasket retention systems, the disclosed assembly does not require alarge recess formed through the tubular housing or connector. Instead,the disclosed gasket retention assembly has a small footprint that helpsto minimize impact to the wellhead/connector capacity by ensuring alarge contact surface at the interface of the housing and connector.

The gasket retention assembly generally includes a port formed throughthe tubular connector, a spring loaded plunger disposed in a recess ofthe connector, this recess being fluidly coupled to the port, and aspring loaded retention mechanism that the plunger passes through. Thespring loaded retention mechanism interfaces directly with a gasket ofthe tubular assembly to hold the gasket in position against the wellheadconnector. The spring loaded retention mechanism may be orientedperpendicular to the spring loaded plunger. The gasket retentionassembly may also include a valve or other closure mechanism disposed ata distal end of the port to enable specific hydraulic control of thegasket retention assembly. The gasket retention assembly isself-energizing and can be operated hands free (e.g., automatically orvia hydraulic control inputs from an ROV or control line) to selectivelyengage/disengage the gasket from the retention mechanism. This allowsfor relatively easy removal and replacement of the gasket from thewellhead assembly at the subsea location using an ROV.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an assembly 200 including a housing110, a connector 112, and a gasket 105, according to one or more aspectsof the present disclosure. The assembly 200 may include a tubularhousing 110 having a central bore 150 that may contact a tubularconnector 112, where the connector 112 also has a central bore 150. Thehousing 110 and connector 112 may be secured by a locking ring 114. Thelocking ring 114 may surround the housing 110 and connector main body112. The gasket 105 may include a conical upward facing surface, aconical downward facing surface, and a central bore 150. The gasket 105may create a seal when the conical upward facing surface of the gasket105 contacts a conical downward-facing shoulder of the connector 112 andthe conical downward-facing surface of the gasket 105 contacts a conicalupward-facing shoulder of the housing 110. A retention device 125 mayreside in a recess in the gasket 105. The retention device 125, whichmay include an elastomeric seal (such as an o-ring, s-seal, polypak, ort-seal), a plunger, or a mechanical, hydraulic, or auto-releaseconfiguration of retention device, may operate to maintain the positionof the gasket 105. As illustrated in FIG. 1, a blowout valve 160 maypass through the connector 112 to allow air or fluid pressure to buildbehind the retention device 125 to dislodge the retention device 125 andthe gasket 105. The reduced size of the gasket 105, with respect toprior implementations, may enable contact between the entiredownward-facing shoulder 132 of the connector 112 and the entireupward-facing shoulder 130 of the housing 110. The increased surfacearea contact between the housing 110 and the connector 112 at theinterface between these components increases the strength, flexibility,or both of the assembly 100.

In one or more embodiments, the conical surfaces of the tubular membersmay include multiple conical surfaces separated by steps, ortransitions, between the conical surfaces. These steps may provide avisual indication to the operator for properly seating the gasket.Alternatively, the multiple sealing surfaces may act redundantly toprevent leaks in the event a single seal fails. Alternatively, one ormore of these surfaces may act to help align the gasket instead of, orin addition to, acting as sealing surfaces. FIG. 2 illustrates such anembodiment. The housing 110 and the connector 112 may each includemultiple surfaces 316, 317, 318, and 320 separated by steps 314 and 315therebetween. Although four conical surfaces 316, 317, 318, and 320 areshown on each of the housing 110 and the connector 112, other numbers orarrangements of these conical surfaces may be utilized. The gasket 305may include multiple conical sealing segments 311, 312, and 313 forsealing the gasket 305 against each of the housing 110 and the connector112. For example, the conical sealing segments 312 of the gasket 305 maygenerally seal against the conical surfaces 317 of the housing 110 andconnector 112, while the conical sealing segments 311 of the gasket 305may generally seal against the conical surfaces 316 of the housing 110and connector 112. Furthermore, conical sealing segments 313 of thegasket 305 may generally seal against the conical surfaces 318 of thehousing 110 and connector 112. One or more of conical gasket surfaces311, 312, and 313 may alternatively, or additionally, act to aid inalignment of the gasket 305 during installation of the gasket 305 and/oractuation of the connector. The connector 112 may include a straightvertical section 319 along its internal diameter. This straight verticalsection 319, as shown, may be located between the conical surfaces 316,317, 318, and 320 of the housing 110 and the connector 112 when thehousing 110 and connector 112 are coupled together.

The connector 112 may further include a tapered segment 321. The taperedsegment 321 may aid in alignment of the connector 112 with respect tothe housing 110. The tapered segment 321 of the connector 112 mayinterface with one or more of the conical gasket surfaces 311, 312, or313 during actuation to aid in alignment of the gasket 305. In otherembodiments, the connector 112 may not include the tapered segment butinstead just the straight vertical section (e.g., as shown in FIG. 4having vertical section 514). In such instances, the straight verticalsection 514 of the connector 112 may extend all the way down andinterface directly with one of the conical surfaces (e.g., 511) of thehousing 110.

Furthermore, the gasket 305 may be designed in such a way to protect thesealing surfaces 320 of the housing 110 and connector 112 for use withother types of gaskets that can utilize these surfaces 320 for sealing.The gasket 305 is operable to increase surface area contact between thehousing 110 and the connector 112 at the interface between the tubularmembers and to create a seal at said interface. The interface betweenthe housing 110 and the connector 112 may be shaped with an alignmentfeature 323 designed to aid in alignment of the connector 112 with thehousing 110 during installation of the connector 112 onto the housing110. The alignment feature 323 may generally include a concave portionof the connector configured to be received over a complementary shapedconvex portion of the housing 110. The alignment feature 323 may bespecifically designed to ensure alignment of the connector 112 with thehousing 110 prior to the gasket 305 being energized.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the housing, connector, andgasket of the present disclosure, which may increase the surface areacontact between the housing 110 and the connector 112 at the interfacebetween the two components. As shown, the housing 110 and connector 112may each include similarly shaped surfaces 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, and320 as those described above. Similar to the gasket 305 of FIG. 2, thegasket 405 of FIG. 3 may include multiple conical sealing segments 411,412, 413 for sealing the gasket 405 against each of the housing 110 andthe connector 112. For example, the conical sealing segments 412 of thegasket 405 may generally seal against the conical surfaces 320 of thehousing 110 and connector 112, while the conical sealing segments 411 ofthe gasket 405 may generally seal against the conical surfaces 316 ofthe housing 110 and connector 112. Furthermore, conical sealing segments413 of the gasket 405 may generally seal against the conical surfaces318 of the housing 110 and connector 112. One or more of the conicalgasket surfaces 411, 412, and 413 may alternatively, or additionally,act to aid in alignment of the gasket 405 during installation of thegasket 405 and/or actuation of the connector 112. Furthermore, thegasket 405 may be designed in such a way as to protect the sealingsurfaces 317 of the housing 110 and connector 112 for use with othertypes of gaskets that may utilize the surface for sealing. The gasket405 may further include a recess 430 located between the verticalsealing elements 410. The recess 430 may be operable to receive aretention device (not shown). The gasket 405 may also include additionalrecesses 415 formed between adjacent sets of conical sealing segments411 and 412, as shown.

FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of the housing, connector, andgasket of the present disclosure. The housing 110 and the connector 112may each include one or more conical surfaces 511. The connector 112 mayinclude a straight vertical section 514 along its internal diameter.This straight vertical section 514, as shown, may be located between theconical sealing surfaces 511 of the housing 110 and the connector 112when the housing 110 and connector 112 are coupled together. Thestraight vertical section 514 of the connector 112 may interfacedirectly with the conical sealing surface 511 of the housing 110. Likethe gasket 405 of FIG. 3, the gasket 505 of FIG. 4 may include conicalsealing segments 515, to seal against the conical surfaces 511 of thehousing 110 and connector 112 vertical sealing segments 510 to sealagainst the vertical section 514 of the connector 112, and a recess 530.The recess 530 may generally be located between the two vertical sealingsegments 510, as shown. The recess 530 may be operable to receive aretention device (not shown). The gasket 505 may further include anextension 520 that may remain in contact with a vertical section 540 ofthe housing 110.

As shown in FIG. 4, the end of the connector 112 facing the housing 110may include a concave portion 545, and the end of the housing 110 facingthe connector 112 may include a complementary convex portion 550. Theconcave portion 545 of the connector 112 may be shaped to fit directlyover and around the convex portion 550 of the housing 110. This may helpwith aligning the connector 112 to the housing 110 while the connectionis being made. The concave/convex portions may also facilitate a largeroverall surface area of connection between the ends of the housing 110and the connector 112.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of the housing, connector, andgasket of the present invention. The housing 110 and the connector 112may each include multiple conical surfaces 611, 612 separated by a step613 therebetween. Although only two conical surfaces 611, 612 are shownon each of the housing 110 and the connector 112, other numbers orarrangements of these conical surfaces may be utilized. Like gasket 305of FIG. 2, the gasket 605 of FIG. 5 may include multiple stepped sealingsegments 615, 617 designed to interface directly with the correspondingconical surfaces 611, 612 of the housing 110 and connector 112. Thegasket 605 may include a recess 603 formed therein between the opposingsets of conical sealing segments 615, 617. The recess 630 may beoperable to receive a retention device 634. The retention device 634 maybe mechanically, hydraulically, or pneumatically operated, and may beused to selectively maintain the position of the gasket 605 in positionor to dislodge the gasket 605 so that it may be replaced. Example gasketretention assemblies that include such a retention device designed tointerface with the recess 630 in the gasket 605 are described in greaterdetail below.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate aligning and sealing an interface of thehousing 110 with the connector 112 using a representative gasket 1005 inaccordance with aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7,the entire surface area of the shoulders 1030, 1032 making up thehousing 110 and connector 112, respectively, are able to engage eachother and thus bear much greater loading demands than existingconnections.

In one or more embodiments, the tubular members (housing 110 andconnector 112) may include multiple conical segments separated by one ormore steps, or transitions, between conical segments and the gasket 1005may similarly include multiple conical segments separated by one or moresteps, or transitions. These steps may provide a visual indication tothe operator for identifying the functionality of the given conicalsegment. Additionally, the steps may separate the conical segments byfunction, such that certain conical segments act as sealing surfaceswhile other conical segments act as aligning surfaces.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate such an embodiment. The gasket 1005 may includea plurality of conical alignment segments 1015 and a plurality ofconical sealing segments 1017 which may be separated by steps. Thegasket 1005 is operable to increase surface area contact between thehousing 110 and the connector 112 at the interface between thesecomponents and to create a seal at said interface. The alignmentsegments 1015 may enable alignment of the gasket 1005 when makinginitial contact with the tubular members 110, 112. The sealing segments1017 of the gasket 1005 may only contact the conical segments of thetubular members 110, 112 after partially energizing the gasket 1005 (bymechanical, hydraulic, or any other similar means) and applying an axialload to both ends of the gasket 1005, as is done during latching of theconnector 112 to the housing 110. The alignment segments 1015 of thegasket 1005 may be operable to prevent contact between the sealingsegments 1017 of the gasket 1005 and the conical sealing segments of thetubular members 110, 112 during alignment, such that engagement of thesealing segments of the tubular members with the sealing segments 1017of the gasket only occurs when the housing 110, connector 112, andgasket 1005 are axially aligned. In such an embodiment, the initialcontact of the gasket 1005 with the housing 110 and the connector 112occurs along the alignment segments 1015 of the gasket 1005. Thesealignment segments 1015 guide the gasket 1005 into place as the tubularmembers 110, 112 are brought together to create the assembly 1000.

By preventing oblique contact between the critical sealing segments 1017of the gasket 1005 and the tubular members 110, 112, the sealingsegments 1017 of the gasket 1005 may avoid wear until the assembly 1000is ready to be sealed. The alignment segments 1015 may further minimizethe sliding distance as the gasket 1005 is aligned. The gasket 1005 mayfurther include a recess 330 that may be operable to receive a retentiondevice (not shown).

FIG. 7 illustrates the assembly 1000 after the gasket 1005 has movedinto alignment along alignment segments 1015 and the gasket 1005 hascreated a seal where the sealing segments 1017 contact the housing 110and the connector 112. The shape of the gasket 1005 enables contactbetween the entire upward-facing shoulder 1030 of the housing and theentire downward-facing shoulder 1032 of the connector 112.

The steps of aligning, engaging, and sealing the housing 110 to theconnector 112 are further shown in FIGS. 8A-C. As disclosed above, thenet result is a housing-connector engagement that maximizes theload-bearing capabilities of the assembly 1000. The illustratedembodiment includes a gasket 905 that may feature mismatched angles onconical segments 915 and 917. The mismatched angles of the conicalsegments 915 and 917 may ensure that the sealing segments 917 do notsealingly engage the connector 112 and housing 110 until the gasket 905is partially energized and precisely aligned within the tubularassembly. The angles of the alignment segments 915 may be less steepthan the corresponding angles of the sealing segments 917 taken relativeto the vertical axis. As a result, there will be less of a change ofinterference between the alignment segments 915 and the housing110/connector 112 for a given axial stroke length of the connector 112towards the housing 110. This mechanism may be used to allow initialcontact to occur at the surfaces 915 of the gasket 905, but can resultin a greater total interference on the sealing segments 917. Sinceinterference is proportional to sealing contact stress, and thereforseal integrity, it is important to have greater interference on thesealing segments 917 than on the other segments 915. This prevents thesealing surface (i.e., sealing segments 917) of the gasket 905 frombeing the first surface to contact the housing/connector, which canresult in scratching the sealing surface and, therefore, degradedperformance of the seal.

In FIG. 8A, alignment segments 915 of the gasket 905, may come intocontact with the housing 110 and the connector 112, while sealingsegments 917 have not come into contact with the tubular members 110,112, as described above. For example, if the gasket 905 is initiallyrotated relative to the tubular members, the alignment segments 915 ofthe gasket 905 may make first contact with the tubular members 110, 112and facilitate corrective rotation to align the gasket 905. As theassembly 900 is brought into alignment, the sealing segments 917 of thegasket 905 may be brought into contact with the tubular members 110, 112while the alignment segments 915 may remain in contact with tubularmembers 110, 112, as illustrated in FIG. 8B. The gasket 905 may create aseal where the gasket 905 contacts the tubular members 110, 112. Theconical sealing segments 917 of the gasket 905 may be energized bydrawing the tubular members 110, 112 together under high loads so as toradially and tangentially compress the gasket 905 to generate highcontact stresses at the sealing segments 917. The high contact stressesprovide a tight seal against high pressure fluid, such as oil or gas. Inthis embodiment, the alignment segments 915 may cease contact withtubular members 110, 112 while the sealing segments 917 remain incontact with the tubular members 110, 112. In other embodiments,alignment segments 915 may remain in contact during and after the sealis formed. In addition to sealing against fluid transported through thebore, the seal and connection provided by the gasket 905 may provide aload path for forces generated by bending and compressing the assembly.A gasket 905 comprising a slender ring may be flexible to withstand theload and compression of the bending moment applied by the connectionbetween the tubular members 110, 112.

In one or more embodiments, the disclosed gasket (e.g., 105, 305, 405,505, 605, 905, 1005) may include a thin corrosion resistant layer on theorder of between 0.001″ and 0.002″ thick applied to the metal body ofthe gasket. The corrosion-resistant layer may be silver, tin, molybdenumdi-sulfide, or a flouropolymer such as Xylan™. These materials provideadequate corrosion resistance and durability in high pressure and hightemperature environments. They also provide reduced friction andprotection against galling. The corrosion-resistant layer may be easierto apply to the entire gasket (e.g., 105, 305, 405, 505, 605, 905, 1005)during manufacture, but may also be applied subsequently.

The present disclosure may be useful for joining tubular members used inthe hydrocarbon recovery industry, and is illustrated and explained inthis context. It should be noted, however, that the invention can beapplied more generally in other contexts and environments wherein firstand second tubular members are to be sealingly joined, and possiblyexposed to wide temperature and pressure ranges.

Having described the general use of a gasket with improved sealingcapabilities and a tubular assembly that enables an increased surfacearea at the interfacing surfaces of tubular components, a gasketretention system that may be used with the tubular assembly will now bedescribed.

FIG. 9 illustrates an assembly 200 (e.g., wellhead assembly) including atubular housing 110, a tubular connector 112, and a gasket 1105. Acentral bore 150 runs through each of the housing 110, the connector112, and the gasket 1105. The tubular housing 110 and tubular connector112 may include a subsea wellhead housing and a subsea wellheadconnector, respectively. However, it should be noted that the disclosedgasket retention assembly may be similarly utilized in other contextsinvolving a tubular housing coupled to a tubular connector and sealedagainst the tubular connector via a gasket.

The assembly 200 having the housing 110 and the connector 112 isillustrated as being in a locked and sealed configuration. Asillustrated, the housing 110 and connector 112 may be secured togethervia a locking ring 114. The locking ring 114 may surround the housing110 and at least a main body of the connector 112. The gasket 1105 mayinclude a conical upward facing surface and a conical downward facingsurface. The gasket 1105 may generally create a seal when the conicalupward facing surface of the gasket 1105 contacts a conical downwardfacing surface of the connector 112, and the conical downward facingsurface of the gasket 1105 contacts a conical upward facing surface ofthe housing 110. The gasket 1105 may be self-aligning and relativelyslender. The reduced size of the gasket 1105, compared to priorimplementations that featured radially extending ribs, may enablecontact between all (or almost all) of a downward facing shoulder 132 ofthe connector 112 and all (or almost all) of an upward facing shoulder130 of the housing, as described at length above with reference to FIGS.1-8.

The assembly 200 of FIG. 9 includes an improved gasket retentionassembly 1100 that may be used to retain the gasket 1105 in a desiredposition relative to the connector 112. The gasket retention assembly1100 may be self-energizing and enable hands free operation forselectively connecting or removing the gasket 1105 from the connector112.

FIGS. 10-12 illustrate an embodiment of the disclosed gasket retentionassembly 1100 that may be used to hold the gasket 1105 in a desiredposition within a larger tubular assembly 200. As shown in FIG. 10, thegasket retention assembly 1100 may include a port 1102 formed throughthe connector 112 and leading from an outer edge 1104 of the connector112 at one end to a spring loaded plunger 1106 and a spring loadedretention mechanism 1108 at an opposite end. As shown, the gasketretention assembly 1100 may also include a closure mechanism 1110disposed at the end of the port 1102 that terminates at the outer edge1104 of the connector 112. The closure mechanism 1110 may include anytype of device or assembly that may be used to selectively prevent aflow of fluid through the port 1102. For example, the closure mechanism1110 may generally enable an end of the port 1102 to be selectivelyclosed off or opened depending on a position or actuation of the closuremechanism 1110, thereby preventing or allowing fluid flow through theport 1102. The closure mechanism 1110 may include a valve fluidlycoupled to the port 1102, a check valve positioned along the port 1102,or a separate plug that may be inserted into an end of the port 1102 toclose the port 1102 or removed from the port 1102 to open the port 1102.

The closure mechanism 1110 may be accessible to a remote operatedvehicle (ROV) or other component located outside the tubular assembly200. When the closure mechanism 1110 is positioned or actuated such thatthe port 1102 is open to fluid flow, (e.g., valve is open, no plug inthe port, etc.), the closure mechanism 1110 may allow venting offluid/pressure from the port 1102, or may allow pressure inputs from anexternal device (e.g., ROV) to flow into the port 1102. When the closuremechanism 1110 is positioned or actuated to prevent fluid flow throughthe port 1102 (e.g., valve is closed, plug is placed in the port), theclosure mechanism 1110 may prevent fluid/pressure flow between the port1102 and external components. In some instances, the closure mechanism1110 may include a closed valve system with a fluid storage mechanismdisposed therein, such that the port 1102 may be fluidically coupled tothe fluid storage mechanism when the valve is open.

The retention mechanism 1108 may directly engage with the gasket 1105 toeffectively lock the gasket 1105 in position against the connector 112.The plunger 1106 may be used to selectively engage or disengage theretention mechanism 1108 from the gasket 1105 to enable retrieval of thegasket 1105 from the connector 112 as desired. In some instances, theclosure mechanism 1110 may help to hydraulically control the position ofthe plunger 1106 to facilitate engagement or disengagement of theretention mechanism 1108 from the gasket 1105. Various differentarrangements of the retention mechanism 1108, plunger 1106, and/orclosure mechanism 1110 may be utilized to selectively engage anddisengage the retention mechanism 1108 from the gasket 1105 throughoutoperation of the gasket retention assembly 1100. Different examples offunctional arrangements of the gasket retention assembly 1100 will nowbe described in greater detail.

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a close up view of parts of the gasket retentionassembly 1100 shown in FIG. 10. FIG. 11 shows the assembly 1100 in alanding position prior to the connector 112 landing on the housing 110and being secured to the housing 110 (e.g., via a lock ring). FIG. 12shows the assembly 1100 in a landed position after the connector 112 hassuccessfully landed on the housing 110 such that the gasket 1105 issealing the space between the connector 112 and the housing 110.

As illustrated, the gasket retention assembly 1100 includes the plunger1106 with a corresponding spring 1130 and the retention mechanism 1108with a corresponding spring 1132. The retention mechanism 1108 isdisposed at least partially within a recess 1134 formed in the connector112. The recess 1134 in the connector 112 is generally formed in aradial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis (e.g., 1200 of FIG.9) of the bore (e.g., 150 of FIG. 9) through the tubular assembly (e.g.,200 of FIG. 9). As shown, the recess 1134 generally extends through aninner diameter 1136 of the connector 112. The retention mechanism 1108and its corresponding spring 1132 are held within the recess 1134 formedin the connector 112. A portion of the plunger 1106 also passes throughthe recess 1134 as well.

The retention mechanism 1108 may include an engagement feature 1138 suchas a shoulder, latch, or similar component, designed to engage with acomplementary profile 1140 (e.g., recess, shoulder, latch, etc.) on aradially outer diameter of the gasket 1105. The engagement features 1138is disposed on an end of the retention mechanism 1108 extending in aradial direction from the recess 1134 toward the gasket 1105. At anopposite end, the retention mechanism 1108 is coupled to the spring1132. The spring 1132 may abut an edge of the recess 1134 within theconnector 112 such that the spring 1132 biases the retention mechanism1108 in a radially inward direction toward the gasket 1105.

The retention mechanism 1108 includes a passage 1142 formedtherethrough. The passage 1142 enables the spring loaded plunger 1106 topass entirely through the retention mechanism 1108 and, consequently,through the recess 1134 in the connector 112. As illustrated, theplunger 1106 may generally extend in a direction that is parallel to thelongitudinal axis (e.g., 1200 of FIG. 9) of the bore (e.g., 150 of FIG.9) through the tubular assembly (e.g., 200 of FIG. 9). As such, thespring loaded plunger 1106 and the spring loaded retention mechanism1108 are positioned perpendicular to each other, and they are positionedwith respect to each other so that the plunger 1106 extends at leastpartially through the passage 1142 in the retention mechanism 1108. Asillustrated, the passage 1142 may include sloped walls.

The plunger 1106 is disposed at least partially through another recess1144 formed in the connector 112. The recess 1144 in the connector 112is generally formed in a longitudinal direction that is parallel to thelongitudinal axis (e.g., 1200 of FIG. 9) of the bore (e.g., 150 of FIG.9) through the tubular assembly (e.g., 200 of FIG. 9). As shown, therecess 1144 generally extends through the downward facing shoulder 132of the connector 112. The recess 1144 intersects the radially orientedrecess 1134. The recess 1144 may form a portion of the port 1102extending through the connector 112. The recess 1144 may have a slightlylarger diameter than the rest of the port 1102, so as to provide ashoulder 1146 for holding the spring 1130 in place.

The plunger 1106 may include a contact end 1148 that extends from thedownward facing shoulder 132 of the connector 112 in a longitudinaldirection toward the upward facing shoulder 130 of the housing 110. Thecontact end 1148 may make first contact with the upward facing shoulder130 of the housing 110 prior to the downward facing shoulder 132 of theconnector 112 making contact with the upward facing shoulder 130 of thehousing 110. At an opposite end of the plunger 1106 from the contact end1148, the plunger 1106 is coupled to the spring 1130. The spring 1130may abut the shoulder 1146 at the edge of the recess 1144 such that thespring 1130 biases the plunger 1106 in a longitudinally downwarddirection toward the upward facing shoulder 130 of the housing 110.

The plunger 1106 may include a midsection 1150 disposed adjacent thecontact end 1148 along the length of the plunger 1106. The plunger 1106may include a tail portion 1152 disposed adjacent the midsection 1150along the length of the plunger 1106, such that the midsection 1150 islocated between the contact end 1148 and the tail portion 1152. Asillustrated, the midsection 1150 of the plunger 1106 may have a largerdiameter than both the contact end 1148 and the tail portion 1152 of theplunger 1106. Part of the recess 1144 may be sized to accommodate thelarger diameter of the midsection 1150, while other parts of the recess(e.g., at the spring or “tail” end) may be sized to accommodate only upto the diameter of the tail portion 1152 of the plunger 1106, and notthe midsection 1150. The larger diameter portion of the recess 1144 mayextend only from one or both sides of the other recess 1134.

A plunger retainer ring 1154 may be positioned within the recess 1144 ata position proximate the downward facing shoulder 132. The plungerretainer ring 1154 may help maintain the plunger 1106 within the recess1144 during the landing process, as the midsection 1150 with the largerdiameter is held in place by the retainer ring 1154.

One or more O-rings 1156 or other seal elements may be positioned aboutthe plunger 1106 to seal an annular space between the plunger 1106 andthe connector 112. The one or more O-rings 1156 generally provide afluidic seal that keeps fluid and pressure that is present within theport 1102 from flowing beyond the plunger 1106. As illustrated, the oneor more 0-rings 1156 may be positioned about the tail portion 1152 ofthe plunger 1106.

In the landing position of FIG. 11, the gasket 1105 is locked to theconnector 112 via the gasket retention assembly 1100. Specifically, theengagement feature 1138 (i.e., shoulder) of the retention mechanism 1108is engaged with the corresponding profile 1140 on the gasket 1105 tohold the gasket 1105 against the connector 112. The spring 1132 keepsthe retention mechanism 1108 biased outward to maintain the connectionwith the gasket 1105, and the spring 1130 biases the plunger 1106 towardthe upward facing shoulder 130 of the housing 110 such that the contactend 1148 of the plunger 1106 extends outside of the connector 112. Inarrangements where a valve or other closure mechanism 1110 is present,the valve may be held in an open position during landing of theconnector 112 to allow fluid in the port 1102 to vent.

In the landed position of FIG. 12, the downward facing shoulder 132 ofthe connector 112 is brought into contact with the upward facingshoulder 130 of the housing 110. However, during the landing process,the contact end 1148 of the plunger 1106 may contact the upward facingshoulder 130 first. The upward facing shoulder 130 may transmit areaction force in an upward direction to the contact end 1148 of theplunger 1106 as the connector 112 continues moving downward. The forcefrom the upward facing shoulder 130 may press the plunger 1106 upward,compressing the spring 1130, until the entire plunger 1106 is positionedwithin the recess 1144 as shown in FIG. 12.

As the plunger 1106 is moved further into the connector 112, theradially large midsection 1150 of the plunger 1106 may move from aposition proximate the plunger retainer ring 1154 to a positiongenerally in line with the recess 1134. Due to the slanted walls of thepassage 1142 formed through the retention mechanism 1108, a leading edgeof the plunger midsection 1150 may contact the slanted wall on one side(e.g., radially outer side) of the passage 1142 as the plunger 1106moves. The plunger 1106 may transmit a force in the longitudinaldirection to the slanted wall of the passage 1142, and this force maypush the retention mechanism 1108 in a radially outward direction sincethe retention mechanism 1108 is bound by the radially oriented recess1134. Moving the plunger 1106 and, consequently, the retention mechanism1108 in this way may withdraw the retention mechanism 1108 mostly orfully into the recess 1134 such that the retention mechanism 1108 is nolonger in engagement with the gasket 1105. In the landed position ofFIG. 12, the gasket 1105 is held between the slanted surfaces of thetubular housing 110 and connector 112. As shown, the gasket 1105 may nolonger be held against the connector 112 via the gasket retentionassembly 1100 when the gasket 1105 is in this landed position.

Turning back to FIG. 9, the cross section of the tubular assembly 200shows the gasket retention assembly 1100 on one side of the connector112 and not the other. It should be noted that the disclosed tubularassembly 200 may include multiple gasket retention assemblies 1100(e.g., 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or more) having respective ports, plungers,and retention mechanisms disposed within the connector 112. The multiplegasket retention assemblies 1100 may be located at differentcircumferential positions within the connector 112. The locations of thegasket retention assemblies 1100 may be spaced equidistant from eachother circumferentially about the longitudinal axis 1200 of the bore150.

In other embodiments, the tubular assembly 200 may feature just onegasket retention assembly 1100 having a port, plunger, and retentionmechanism. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9, the tubular assembly 200may include one or more additional retention features 1202 disposedwithin one or more recesses of the connector 112. For example, aretention feature 1202 may be disposed within the connector 112 on anopposite side from the gasket retention assembly 1100. However, similarretention features 1202 may be disposed at additional or alternativecircumferential locations within the connector 112.

The retention feature(s) 1202 may include similar components as thoseused in the gasket retention assembly 1100, but without including a portor closure mechanism. Specifically, the retention feature(s) 1202 mayeach include a similar spring-loaded plunger and spring-loaded retentionmechanism positioned within corresponding recesses formed in theconnector. These components of the retention feature 1202 may be shaped,arranged, and designed to function as discussed in detail above withreference to the plunger 1106 and retention mechanism 1108 of FIGS.10-12. In other instances, the retention feature(s) may include a pinmechanism, as shown. The retention feature(s) 1202 may press against thegasket 1105 from one or more different circumferential positions thanthe gasket retention assembly 1100 to help hold the gasket 1105 in placeagainst the connector 112 during landing operations. Upon landing theconnector 112, the retention feature(s), similar to the gasket retentionassembly 1100, may be automatically deactivated via the interaction ofthe spring loaded plunger and retention mechanism to release the gasket1105 from the connector 112.

The disclosed gasket retention assembly 1100 has a very small footprintwithin the overall tubular assembly 200. For example, the recess 1144formed through the connector 112 is much smaller than recesses formed inexisting connectors/housings to facilitate gasket retention. The recess1144 that extends through the shoulder 132 of the connector 112 may beformed via drilled holes, instead of via large milled slots as iscurrent practice. This reduced recess size means that a larger surfacearea of the downward facing shoulder 132 is able to contact the upwardfacing shoulder 130 of the housing 110 when the connector 112 is landed,thereby increasing the capacity of the housing/connector seal.

The disclosed gasket retention assembly 1100 also enables hands free orhydraulic operation for retrieving/releasing the gasket 1105 relative tothe connector 112. For example, in the gasket retention assembly 1100 ofFIGS. 10-12, no actions are required to land or retrieve the gasket 1105with the connector 112. The closure mechanism 1110 may be positioned oractuated such that the port 1102 remains open to fluid flow during bothlanding and retrieval of the connector 112 so as to vent thefluid/pressure from the port 1102. As a result of this venting of theport 1102, the plunger 1106 is able to move up and down freely.

As described above, during landing, the housing 110 may push against theplunger 1106, which can move up since the port 1102 is vented. Thismovement of the plunger 1106 disengages the retention mechanism 1108from the gasket 1105. Similarly, to retrieve the connector 112 andgasket 1105 together, the connector 112 may be unlocked from the housing110 and picked up. As the connector 112 is lifted, the spring 1130biases the plunger 1106 back to its original position extending from theedge of the connector 112. The plunger 1106 is able to move thisdirection due to venting of the port 1102. As the plunger 1106 movesback downward, the midsection 1150 of the plunger 1106 moves away fromthe passage 1142 such that the plunger 1106 is no longer pushing theretention mechanism 1108 toward the spring 1132. The spring 1132 biasesthe retention mechanism 1108 back toward the gasket 1105 such that theengagement feature 1138 of the retention mechanism 1108 re-engages thegasket 1105. As a result, the connector 112 may be reconnected to thegasket 1105 such that the gasket 1105 is retrieved with the connector112 automatically during lifting of the connector 112. This retrieval ofthe gasket 1105 may be performed without the use of any ROV or hydrauliccontrol operations.

At other times, it may be desirable to release the gasket 1105 from theconnector 112. For example, it may be desirable to release the gasket1105 from the connector 112 so that the gasket 1105 can be removed andreplaced via an ROV. Releasing the gasket 1105 from the gasket retentionassembly 1100 of FIGS. 10-12 involves first positioning or actuating theclosure mechanism such that the port 1102 is closed to fluid flowtherethrough, unlocking the connector 112 from the housing 110, and thenpicking up the connector 112 from the housing 110.

Positioning or actuating the closure mechanism 1110 to prevent fluidflow through the port 1102 traps the fluid above the plunger 1106 (e.g.,forming a pressure trap), thereby causing the pressure within the port1102 to remain constant. This prevents the plunger 1106 from moving backdownward in response to the force from the spring 1130 while theconnector 112 is being lifted. As a result, the plunger 1106 may stay inthe same longitudinal position within the recess 1144 as the connector112 is lifted. Similarly, the retention mechanism 1108 is held in thesame position (i.e., disengaged from the gasket profile 1140) by thestationary plunger 1106.

After unlocking the connector 112 from the housing 110 (e.g., via thelocking ring 114), the connector 112 may be lifted away from the housing110 while the gasket retention device 1100 is in the closedconfiguration. With the closure mechanism 1110 closing off fluid flowthrough the port 1102, the retention mechanism 1108 may be unable toreconnect to the gasket profile 1140 during this movement of theconnector 112. As a result, the gasket 1105 is no longer attached to theconnector 112 and instead remains in its landed position against thehousing 110. At this point, the gasket 1105 may be removed from thewellhead 110 via an ROV and traded out for another gasket 1105 via thesame or a different ROV operating subsea. The connector 112 may then belanded back on the wellhead 110. To re-engage the gasket retentionassembly 1100 with the new gasket 1105, the closure mechanism 1110 isopened again to allow fluid flow through the port 1102 and release theplunger 1106. That way, the next time the connector 112 is removed, thegasket retention assembly 1100 will be re-energized to engage the gasketprofile 1140 and retrieve the gasket 1105.

The process of opening and closing the closure mechanism 1110 may beperformed by an ROV that is controlled from the surface. The connector112 may include an ROV interface 1210 as illustrated in FIG. 10, and theinterface 1210 may provide one or more connections between an outsideROV stabbing into the interface 1210 and the closure mechanism (e.g.,valve) 1110. The ROV may stab into the interface 1210 and output acontrol signal (e.g., hydraulic, electric, pneumatic) to the valve 1110designed to actuate a valve or physically place a plug in the port 1102to actuate the closure mechanism 1110 between the open and closedpositions.

In addition, the interface 1210 may in some instances provide a directfluid connection between an outside ROV stabbing into the interface 1210and the port 1102. For example, an ROV may be able to stab into theinterface 1210 and communicate pressurized fluid directly into the port1102 when the closure mechanism 1110 is not positioned actuated to closethe port 1102. That way, the ROV may communicate pressurized fluid intothe port 1102 to help push the plunger 1106 down. This may beparticularly useful in the event that the plunger 1106 becomes stuck orthe spring 1130 is ineffective at pushing the plunger 1106 back downwhile the connector 112 is lifted off the housing 110.

The gasket retention assembly 1100 of FIGS. 10-12 includes a closuremechanism 1110. However, other embodiments of the disclosed gasketretention assembly 1100 may not include any sort of valve, plug, orother closure mechanism on the connector 112. For example, FIG. 13illustrates a similar gasket retention assembly 1100 where the pressurewithin the assembly is simply vented to the outside of the connector 112via the port 1102. Venting pressure through the port 1102 may allow theplunger 1106 to move up and down freely, as described at length above.That way, the retention mechanism 1108 is always acting to retain thegasket 1105 within the connector 112 during movement of the connector112. In some embodiments, the gasket retention mechanism 1100 may bedesigned in such a way as to allow the plunger 1106 and retentionmechanism 1108 to release the gasket 1105 from the connector 112 inresponse to pressurized fluid communicated into the port 1102 (e.g.,from an ROV).

In another embodiment of the tubular assembly 200, the gasket retentionmechanism 1100 may be designed with a reverse arrangement of the plunger1106 and retention mechanism 1108 from the arrangement described abovewith reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. FIG. 14 illustrates a close upversion of one such gasket retention mechanism 1100. All the elements ofthe gasket retention assembly 1100 may be the same as those shown anddescribed with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, except for the plunger1106, spring 1130, and retention mechanism 1108. In this case, thespring 1130 may be located at the downward longitudinal end of therecess 1144 (e.g., positioned against the retainer ring 1154), such thatthe plunger 1106 is located within the recess 1144 at a position abovethe spring 1130. In the retention mechanism 1108 of FIG. 14, the slantedwalls of the passage 1142 may be slanted in a different direction thanthose of the previously described example. Specifically, instead of thewalls of the passage 1142 slanting in a generally upward and radiallyinward direction (as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12), the walls of the passage1142 in FIG. 14 may slant in a generally upward and radially outwarddirection.

As a result of the different shape of the retention mechanism 1108 inFIG. 14, the gasket retention assembly 1100 may operate differently fromthe assembly described above with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In thegasket retention assembly 1100 of FIG. 14, the spring 1130 may bias theplunger in an upward direction within the recess 1144 such that themidsection 1150 of the plunger 1106 is only partially located within therecess 1134 and contacting the upper end of the slanted wall of thepassage 1142. This is the default position that the gasket retentionassembly 1100 may take during landing of the connector 112 and gasket1105 onto the housing 110. In this position, the retention mechanism1108 engages directly with the gasket profile 1140 to maintain thegasket 1105 in position against the connector 112.

In the system of FIG. 14, the connector 112 may be landed onto thehousing 110 without the gasket retention assembly 1100 automaticallyreleasing the gasket 1105. This is because there is no contact end ofthe plunger 1106 protruding from the connector 112 toward the housing110. When it is desired to release the gasket 1105 from the connector112, the gasket retention assembly 1100 may be disengaged via an ROVstabbing into the interface 1210 of FIG. 10 and providing a pressurizedfluid input to the port 1102. This may increase the pressure in the port1102 to a point that the pressure forces the plunger 1106 in a downwarddirection against the spring force from the spring 1130.

As the plunger 1106 is moved further downward, the radially largemidsection 1150 of the plunger 1106 may move from a relatively upperposition in the recess 1144 to a position generally in line with theintersecting recess 1134. Due to the slanted walls of the passage 1142formed through the retention mechanism 1108, a leading edge of theplunger midsection 1150 may contact the slanted wall on one side (e.g.,radially outer side) of the passage 1142 as the plunger 1106 moves. Theplunger 1106 may transmit a force to the slanted wall of the passage1142, which in turn pushes the retention mechanism 1108 in a radiallyoutward direction against the spring 1132. Moving the plunger 1106 and,consequently, the retention mechanism 1108 in this way may withdraw theretention mechanism 1108 into the recess 1134 such that the retentionmechanism 1108 is no longer in engagement with the gasket 1105.

The gasket 1105 may no longer be held against the connector 112 via thegasket retention assembly 1100 when an ROV or other fluid controlmechanism is inputting pressure to the port 1102. The closure mechanism(e.g., 1110 of FIG. 10) may then be actuated closed after the pressureis input to the port 1102 in order to maintain the gasket 1105 in thereleased position while the connector 112 is removed from the gasket1105 and housing 110. This allows an ROV to remove the gasket 1105 fromthe tubular assembly and replace it with a new gasket 1105. Inembodiments where a closure mechanism 1110 is not present on theconnector 112, however, the ROV may simply remain connected to theinterface and maintain the pressure within the port 1102 as theconnector 112 is lifted off the housing 110 and away from the disengagedgasket 1105.

Once the gasket 1105 has been replaced, the ROV may interface with theconnector 112 again to remove or actuate the closure mechanism 1110 (ifthere is one) to an open position, or may simply disengage from theinterface 1210 (if there is not a valve), thereby allowing the port 1102to vent the pressurized fluid and enable the plunger 1106 to move backup. This movement of the plunger 1106 allows the retention mechanism1108 to return to its engaged position holding the gasket 1105 in placeagainst the connector 112. To retrieve the gasket 1105 with theconnector 112, no action is needed since the gasket retention assembly1100 is spring loaded into engagement with the gasket 1105.

FIG. 15 illustrates an embodiment of the tubular assembly 200 where theconnector 112 includes an ROV interface 1210 that allows an ROV 1300 tostab into the connector 112 and perform multiple functions within thetubular assembly 200. The interface 1210 may include multiple hydraulic,electric, pneumatic, or other inputs 1302, 1304, and 1306 that eachcommunicate control or fluid signals to the tubular assembly 200. Forexample, the input 1302 may communicate hydraulic, electric, pneumatic,or other control signals from the ROV 1300 for controlling operation ofa closure mechanism 1110 in the gasket retention assembly 1100, asdescribed above. The input 1304 may communicate hydraulic fluid from theROV 1300 directly into the port 1102 of the gasket retention assembly1100, as described above. The input 1306 may communicate hydraulic,electric, pneumatic, or other types of control signals from the ROV 1300to the tubular assembly 200 for testing the gasket 1105. Otheradditional or different inputs may be utilized on the ROV interface1210. The interface 1210 may include one or more wet-connect interfacesthat sealingly connect the ROV 1300 to the one or more inputs on theconnector 112. This arrangement of the interface 1210 may allow the ROV1300 to simply stab into the connector 112 once and perform multipledifferent operations on the tubular assembly 200, such as testing thegasket 1105 and then releasing the gasket 1105.

Although the functions of the tubular assembly 200 and, morespecifically, the disclosed gasket retention assembly 1100 have beendescribed above as being controlled by inputs from an ROV, otherembodiments of the tubular assembly 200 may utilize other methods forcontrolling the gasket retention assembly 1100. As shown in FIG. 16, forexample, the closure mechanism 1110 on the connector 112 may include asolenoid valve 1400 coupled to a control system 1402. The control system1402 may receive electrical control signals from the surface via acontrol line 1404 extending upward from the connector 112. Uponreceiving a signal to open or close the port 1102, the control system1402 may output an electrical signal to actuate the solenoid valve 1400accordingly.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been describedherein in some detail, it is to be understood that this has been donesolely for the purposes of describing the various aspects of theinvention, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention asdefined in the claims which follow. Those skilled in the art willunderstand that the embodiment shown and described is exemplary andvarious other substitutions, alterations, and modifications, includingbut not limited to those design alternatives specifically discussedherein, may be made in the practice of the invention without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly, comprising: a first tubular memberhaving a central bore, an end, and a conical sealing surface; a secondtubular member having a central bore, an end, and a conical sealingsurface; and a connector coupling the first tubular member to the secondtubular member, wherein the end of the first tubular member and the endof the second tubular member engage each other at a similar internaldiameter in a face-to-face relationship and the surface of the end ofthe first tubular member engages the entire surface of the end of thesecond tubular member.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the end ofthe first tubular member and the end of the second tubular member engageeach other at a similar internal diameter in a face-to-face relationshipto facilitate an increase in bending/compression capacity of theassembly up to approximately 40% greater than a bending/compressioncapacity of a tubular assembly having a recess formed along its internaldiameter to accommodate a ribbed segment of a gasket.
 3. The assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the first tubular member comprises a straight verticalsection along its internal diameter, wherein the straight verticalsection is located between the conical sealing surfaces of the first andsecond tubular members when the first and second tubular members arecoupled together.
 4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the straightvertical section of the first tubular member interfaces directly withthe conical sealing surface of the second tubular member at the similarinternal diameter.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the end of thefirst tubular member comprises a concave portion, the end of the secondtubular member comprises a complementary convex portion, and wherein theconcave portion is shaped to fit directly around the convex portion. 6.The assembly of claim 1, wherein the conical sealing surface of thefirst tubular member and the conical sealing surface of the secondtubular member each comprise multiple conical surfaces separated bysteps between adjacent conical surfaces.
 7. The assembly of claim 6,wherein a straight vertical section of the first tubular memberinterfaces directly with one of the multiple conical surfaces of thesecond tubular member at the similar internal diameter.
 8. The assemblyof claim 1, further comprising a metal sealing ring having a centralbore, a first conical sealing surface, and a second conical sealingsurface, wherein the first conical sealing surface of the metal sealingring abuts the conical sealing surface of the first tubular member andthe second conical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring abuts theconical sealing surface of the second tubular member.
 9. The assembly ofclaim 8, wherein a radially outermost region of the gasket does notcomprise a ribbed section.
 10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein thefirst conical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring furthercomprises at least one alignment segment and at least one sealingsegment, and wherein the second conical sealing surface of the metalsealing ring comprises at least one alignment segment and at least onesealing segment.
 11. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising aretention device disposed within the first tubular member or the secondtubular member and extending therefrom to engage a profile of a metalsealing ring for retaining the metal sealing ring against the firsttubular member or the second tubular member.
 12. The assembly of claim11, wherein the retention device may be dislodged from engagement withthe metal sealing ring using pressurized air or fluid delivered via aport.
 13. A method of sealing tubular components, comprising: providinga first tubular member having a central bore, an end, and a conicalsealing surface; providing a second tubular member having a centralbore, an end, and a conical sealing surface; aligning the end of thefirst tubular member with the end of the second tubular member at asimilar internal diameter in a face-to-face relationship; and couplingthe first tubular member to the second tubular member using a connectorsuch that the surface of the end of the first tubular member engages theentire surface of the end of the second tubular member.
 14. The methodof claim 13, wherein coupling the first tubular member to the secondtubular member increases a bending/compression capacity of the connectedtubular components up to approximately 40% greater than abending/compression capacity of a tubular assembly having a recessformed along its internal diameter to accommodate a ribbed segment of agasket.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein aligning the first tubularmember to the second tubular member comprises engaging a straightvertical section of the first tubular member with the conical sealingsurface of the second tubular member.
 16. The method of claim 13,wherein aligning the first tubular member to the second tubular membercomprises engaging a concave portion at the end of the first tubularmember with a complementary shaped convex portion at the end of thesecond tubular member.
 17. A metal sealing ring, comprising: a centralbore; a first conical sealing surface with at least one alignmentsegment and at least one sealing segment; and a second conical sealingsurface with at least one alignment segment and at least one sealingsegment.
 18. The metal sealing ring of claim 17, further comprising arecess located between the first conical surface and the second conicalsurface.
 19. The metal sealing ring of claim 17, wherein a surface ofthe at least one alignment segment has an angle of incline with respectto an axis of the central bore that is different than an angle ofincline with respect to the axis of the central bore formed by thesurface of the at least one sealing element.
 20. The metal sealing ringof claim 19, wherein the surface of the at least one alignment segmenthas an angle of incline with respect to an axis of the central bore thatis less than the angle of incline of a surface of the at least onesealing segment with respect to the axis of the central bore.
 21. Themetal sealing ring of claim 17, wherein the first and second conicalsealing surfaces each comprise: a central alignment segment; and adistal alignment segment; wherein the at least one sealing segment islocated between the central alignment segment and the distal alignmentsegment.
 22. The metal sealing ring of claim 21, wherein: at least onesealing surface on the first conical sealing surface is substantiallyequally spaced between the distal alignment segment and the centralalignment segment on the first conical sealing surface; and at least onesealing surface on the second conical sealing surface is substantiallyequally spaced between the distal alignment segment and the centralalignment segment on the second conical sealing surface.
 23. A method ofsealing tubular components, comprising: providing a first tubular memberhaving a central bore, an end, and a conical sealing surface; providinga second tubular member having a central bore, an end, and a conicalsealing surface; providing a metal sealing ring having a central bore, afirst conical sealing surface, and a second conical sealing surface;aligning the end of the first tubular member with the end of the secondtubular member at a similar internal diameter in a face-to-facerelationship; aligning the metal sealing ring with the first tubularmember at a similar internal diameter; and aligning the metal sealingring with the second tubular member at a similar internal diameter 24.The method of claim 23, further comprising sealing a space between thefirst tubular member and the second tubular member against fluid by:abutting the first conical sealing surface of the metal sealing ringwith the conical sealing surface of the first tubular member; andabutting the second conical sealing surface of the metal ring with theconical sealing surface of the second tubular member.
 25. The method ofclaim 24, wherein: abutting the first conical sealing surface of themetal sealing ring with the conical sealing surface of the first tubularmember comprises initially contacting at least one alignment segment ofthe first conical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring with theconical sealing surface of the first tubular member; and abutting thesecond conical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring with theconical sealing surface of the second tubular member comprises initiallycontacting at least one alignment segment of the second conical sealingsurface of the metal sealing ring with the conical sealing surface ofthe second tubular member.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein: abuttingthe first conical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring with theconical sealing surface of the first tubular member further comprisessubsequently contacting the at least one sealing segment of the firstconical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring with the conicalsealing surface of the first tubular member; and abutting the secondconical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring with the conicalsealing surface of the second tubular member further comprisessubsequently contacting a at least one sealing segment of the secondconical sealing surface of the metal sealing ring with the conicalsealing surface of the second tubular member.
 27. A system, comprising:a first tubular member having a central bore, an end, and a conicalsealing surface; and a gasket retention assembly disposed within thefirst tubular member and configured to selectively retain a gasket inengagement with the first tubular member, wherein the gasket retentionassembly comprises: a spring loaded retention device disposed within afirst recess in the first tubular member, wherein the retention devicecomprises a shoulder at one end shaped to engage a complementary profileon the gasket, wherein the retention device comprises a passage formedtherethrough; and a spring loaded plunger disposed within a secondrecess in the first tubular member and extending at least partiallythrough the passage in the retention device.
 28. The system of claim 27,wherein the gasket retention assembly further comprises a port extendingthrough the first tubular member to vent fluid pressure from the gasketretention assembly, wherein the port is fluidically coupled to thesecond recess.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein the port extends fromthe second recess directly to a location outside an external wall of thefirst tubular member.
 30. The system of claim 28, wherein the gasketretention assembly further comprises a closure mechanism disposed at anend of the port proximate an external wall of the first tubular member.31. The system of claim 30, wherein the closure mechanism comprises asolenoid valve, and wherein the gasket retention assembly furthercomprises a control system and a control line disposed along the firsttubular member and communicatively coupled to the solenoid valve. 32.The system of claim 28, further comprising a remote operated vehicle(ROV) interface disposed along an external wall of the first tubularmember.
 33. The system of claim 32, wherein the ROV interface comprisesan input that communicatively couples an ROV to a valve actuator in thefirst tubular member.
 34. The system of claim 32, wherein the ROVinterface comprises an input that communicatively couples an ROVdirectly to the port.
 35. The system of claim 28, further comprising aspring associated with the plunger and disposed against a shoulder ofthe second recess proximate the port, wherein the spring biases theplunger in a direction away from the port.
 36. The system of claim 35,wherein the plunger comprises a contact end disposed opposite an end ofthe plunger that abuts the spring, wherein the contact end selectivelyextends outside the end of the first tubular member.
 37. The system ofclaim 28, further comprising a spring associated with the plunger anddisposed in the second recess proximate the end of the first tubularmember, wherein the spring biases the plunger in a direction toward theport.
 38. The system of claim 27, wherein the passage through theretention device comprises walls that are slanted relative to vertical.39. The system of claim 38, wherein the plunger comprises a midsectionwith a larger diameter than at least one other section of the plunger,wherein the plunger forces the retention device in a direction todisengage the shoulder from the gasket when the midsection of theplunger is positioned within the passage through the retention device.40. The system of claim 27, wherein the gasket retention assemblyfurther comprises a retainer ring disposed in the second recess tomaintain at least a portion of the plunger within the second recess. 41.The system of claim 27, wherein the first recess is oriented in a radialdirection substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of thecentral bore, and the second recess is oriented in a longitudinaldirection substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 42. Thesystem of claim 27, further comprising: a second tubular member having acentral bore, an end, and a conical sealing surface; and the gasket,wherein the gasket comprises a first conical sealing surface to sealagainst the conical sealing surface of the first tubular member and asecond conical sealing surface to seal against the conical sealingsurface of the second tubular member.
 43. A method, comprising: loweringa first tubular member toward a second tubular member; maintaining agasket against the first tubular member during lowering of the firsttubular member via a gasket retention assembly disposed in the firsttubular member, wherein the gasket retention assembly comprises aspring-loaded plunger and a spring-loaded retention device; landing thefirst tubular member against the second tubular member; and releasingthe gasket from the first tubular member by disengaging the gasketretention assembly from the gasket.
 44. The method of claim 43, whereinmaintaining the gasket against the first tubular member comprisesengaging a profile on an outer diameter of the gasket via shoulder on anend of the retention device extending from the first tubular member. 45.The method of claim 44, wherein releasing the gasket comprises movingthe plunger through a recess in the first tubular member, pushingagainst the retention device via the plunger, and withdrawing theretention device into the first tubular member and out of contact withthe gasket.
 46. The method of claim 43, wherein releasing the gasketfrom the first tubular member comprises: contacting an end of theplunger extending outside the first tubular member via the secondtubular housing; compressing a spring associated with the plunger whilewithdrawing the plunger into the first tubular housing in response tothe contact with the second tubular housing; and withdrawing theretention device into the first tubular member and out of contact withthe gasket in response to movement of the plunger.
 47. The method ofclaim 46, further comprising automatically re-engaging the gasketretention assembly with the gasket upon pulling the first tubular memberaway from the second tubular member.
 48. The method of claim 46, furthercomprising routing pressurized fluid to the gasket retention assemblyvia a port to re-engage the gasket retention assembly with the gasketupon pulling the first tubular member away from the second tubularmember.
 49. The method of claim 43, wherein the gasket retentionassembly further comprises a port, and wherein maintaining the gasketagainst the first tubular member comprises venting fluid pressure fromthe gasket retention assembly via the port.
 50. The method of claim 49,wherein releasing the gasket from the first tubular member comprisesproviding pressurized fluid into the port and disengaging the gasketretention assembly from the gasket in response to the pressurized fluid.51. The method of claim 49, further comprising actuating a closuremechanism at an end of the port when the gasket retention assembly isdisengaged from the gasket, and retrieving the first tubular member awayfrom the second tubular member without the gasket.
 52. The method ofclaim 51, further comprising outputting control signals for controllingthe closure mechanism via a remote operated vehicle (ROV).
 53. Themethod of claim 51, further comprising outputting control signals forcontrolling the closure mechanism via a control line extending from asurface location.